TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Jun 19, 2015 8:05 am

Yeah I am 44 so right behind you. Air ride will take care of the no clearance issue. there is no way I am running it all aired out like this. Its only for rolling really slow and parking. When I am aired up in the front its about 65lbs for air, but no gas and tank so prob be around 70ish. As for the tires
175/55/15 Contenentals front
175/65/15 Dunlops rear

Sat Jul 25, 2015 6:14 pm

Well not much of an update but I did pick this up to fix my screw up.

But realizing that this is a full day job and I wanted to move the bug and it was driving me nuts. So found this in the dumpster and few welds and some bolts with 2ft of fuel hose.

My next task should be the fuel line and brakes but I have an e brake. Note this is only for pulling in and out not driving on the street. :P

This is aired up, prob run little more but I can get into my drive way now. :)

and this is layed out

So next going to hook up my compressor and run my air lines. My priority's are way off. LOL
So shopping list prob:
1/4 dot lines get a work discount 21 cents a foot
2 90 dot brass fittings $2
1 brass t $4
Flapper valve with guage
and some 2500 bags for the rear. (to come later)

Fri Jul 31, 2015 4:37 pm

Well I broke down and blew what I had left. This is going to head into the winter so master cylinder comes later. Got a really nice set of Bags from a mini truck guy at work. Nice set of Firesone 255c 1.5 bags 1/4 port and they look like new. Also my dual paddle valve gauge set up came in the mail today.

Specs:

Firestone 255c Air Bag 2500lb Single 1/4" Port

Min. Height: 2.80"
Installed Height: 5.50"-6.50"
Max Height: 8.30"
Diameter(Inflated): 6.60"
Port: 1/4" NPT

Manufacturer: Firestone
Manufacturer Part #: 6957

As for the paddle valve set up, I could have made it myself buying all the parts but it was almost a wash by about 30 bucks shipping,tax and time . Ebay has the best price on these looked for about a week fast shipping too. The main reason I bought it now is so I can get my fronts hooked up. Tired of have to pump it up, though the 1/8 crap lines have held air for a week. :P I need to clean the garage and put the 1/4 lines in. My son wants to help with the bug so this should be a good project. :)

Been working on the bag assy. It will prob change a little deepening how things measure out. I looked at a few other options but this set up is the best by far for irs.All for now.

Thu Sep 24, 2015 9:38 pm

Fighting the fittings on the front monroes. 7/16 20 thread. What were they thinking. I mean I did not pay much but man I can not find a solution for under $40. I went to napa and they were talking $60 get real. I finally found a tap at work so prob going to try this. I get a small discount at granger from work.

The guy says 1/8 npt tapped out to 7/16 20 with 1/4 dot push lock. $9 each going to order them tomorrow hopefully.

Planning to do some major work soon, all for now.

Tue Oct 06, 2015 9:12 pm

Not much done almost got the adapters for the 1/4 lines done. Installed the paddle valves all in about 5 min. Looks like some serious detail action going on . :)

Also got the pipe for the rear air bag mounts

going to be hitting the bug pretty hard soon as I line up all my parts.
I want this be bagged out by new years. :P

Tue Oct 20, 2015 9:27 pm

Finally got everything hooked up.
I know its a mess but its a good place holder.
Prob going to rework a lot of it.
After I get everything working good going to pull the whole front end out and paint etc.
I have been picking away at it about 10 min a day or so not much time at all, but I got it installed.

So tank pump sorta installed.

Ran the Dot lines along with the dot fittings in the front.
Found out It also had a check ball valve already! Did not have to buy one sweet!

Got my adapters they seem to fine. I still have not leak tested the system yet.

I finally found out some info on these pumps. I guess they are low duty and rebuild-able.
18amp 12v ect. I ran some 12ga lines all the way to the battery.

and here is the spec sheet. This seems more like and industrial pump so I guess we will see how long it last.

So it takes 1:30 sec to fill up the tank. After I let out below the switch it takes 20sec to refill to full psi. Not bad really.
I have a switch under the dash that is hooked up to the ignition. That way it will not come on when the car is off.
I also can shut it off via the dash switch.
Used a spot in speedo where there was an extra assy light to let me know the pump is running.
I still need to check for clearance on the shocks to the arms they are pretty tight so might have to take the flapper wheel and smooth out some material.
Also drill the shocks out for the .25 dot line. Id of the dot line is about 3/16 and its got maybe less than a 1/8 hole.
Its a bit slow on the drop and raising. I am pretty happy with the set up so far I just need to figure out where my alignment is I think its pretty out of wack again.

Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:06 pm

Got my air bag mounts cut out of 1/4 plate. I know its prob over kill but just need some time to get this done. Need to get them cut and tacked in so I can get placement for the top brackets. I think I am going to notch my arms for shock mount clearance too rather than cutting them off.
So aired up the front. I have a leak somewhere it prob just a loose fitting or its at the shocks where my adapters go. I don't know if I put enough tape. :)

Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:23 pm

Got my upper mount plates done been waiting a while for these.

Also I was chasing down a leak in my system and it turns out it was a tee fitting on the airlift gauge set up. I emailed them told them how I checked and replaced the hose and it still did not seal. Same day I sent the email off kid you not, "sending you out one today". I good company to deal with! Played around with the fuel tank on how I am going to mount it. I think I am going to just raise it about Inch and quarter. The next time I post I hope to be doing some cutting and fitting on the rear.

Fri Oct 30, 2015 5:37 am

Come do mine when you're done.

Fri Oct 30, 2015 5:39 am

Yeah I hope to take 3 weeks off for Christmas and get the air ride done. We will see though family comes first. :) Still need to dig up a 220 welder. I will only be able to tack it up if at all.

Fri Nov 06, 2015 2:17 pm

Got my fittings from Airlift. They sent me two instead of just one. I got the fitting replaced and its been holding are for few days. Also messed with my fuel tank little to see how much I have to raise it to clear the front beam. I am sure if the front was not smashed in I would only have to move it up about an inch or so.
So for the want list to get it driving again. ( well I can move it but no brakes) Don't want to blow my budget again. I already did that once. :(

Mast brake cylinder
Brake line
pop out window gasket
fuel gauge sender

Sat Dec 05, 2015 10:00 pm

Ok this was a long time coming. I finally got sometime to get the clearance on the shocks. I air tested it for two weeks and they held. I think the check valve on the tank needs to be replaced though.

Sun Dec 06, 2015 2:14 pm

Looking good. Have you driven it?

Sun Dec 06, 2015 4:57 pm

Nope, hope to do the rear bags in few weeks if i can track down a 220 welder. I did bottom it out on the rear muffer and ran out of gas while pulling out of the drive way. I will be lucky if i get it going for the woodburn bug show in july.🚧

Tue Dec 08, 2015 7:21 am

Awesome

Fri Dec 18, 2015 11:26 am

Ok, so I decided to take off thur and fri of this week at the last minute. I am have taken the rest of the month off and I wont be back to work till the 4th of Jan. I spent most of yesterday cleaning the garage for the big switch to bags in the rear. I hate working in unorganized shop. I eyeballed the front wheels again at ride height and flipped the tie rod on the drivers side back. As far as I can tell I will be able to run pretty low. Put in new door seals that came with the car and cleaned a few other things up. All this so I could park the dub in sideways

I thought I was going to pull the motor but I need it to make sure everything clears and I don't think it will do much for space anyways. So the plan is to re index down to 4 clicks on the inside and make clearance for that. I only have prob 3 inches left till I hit my pan or jack mount. I don't plan on driving that low anyways, just for layout. :) I will post more pics as stuff gets done.

so:

rear bags
fuel line
gas tank raise

Sat Dec 19, 2015 3:46 pm

Well got It done so no going back now. :)

I cut the shock mounts off.
I re indexed it to 4 clicks on the inside.

I used the jack to jack it up to see what else was binding up. I might have to take some material off of the spring plate, maybe 1/4 inch or so.

Need to clearance for the bolt not to much more.

The heater box and axle look fine.

Prob have to cut some more for the cv boot to clear.

I am playing most of this by ear and kinda new to the air bag stuff. I might end up taking the torsion bars out depending how it rides. I will def have to figure out where to mount the shocks. Thats the update for now I will prob clean everything up and half way mount the fenders and put it on the ground. I have at least dropped it another 2 inches. I can fine tune the plates the road. I am mainly concerned about getting the bags set up right for the height I want. As always open for some suggestions if anyone has some. More to come later :P

Sun Dec 20, 2015 4:59 am

Interesting how far this car has come. It was practically a tree.

Sun Dec 20, 2015 12:19 pm

Funny how you don't think it has come far because it's not a driver yet. I hope to hammer out most of the things on my list. My problem is i like just sit and look at what i am working on and run through what needs to happen. :lol:

Sun Dec 20, 2015 2:54 pm

Your doing a great job imo!! I've been 4 years and still going lol.